More cooperation between local, regional and international authorities is needed to facilitate trade and sustain security, the Director-General of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, said in a keynote speech delivered today at the opening of the Cargo and Personnel Screening Conference.

The two-day event is being held at the Dusit Thani hotel in Dubai, and was organised by International Quality and Productivity Centre, IQPC, in strategic partnership with Dubai Customs. The conference highlights the latest innovations in screening and detection technology for the prevention of cross-border crimes in the GCC and beyond.

"With the UAE’s positioning as a world-class transport and integrated logistics hub, it has become more important than ever to deploy effective screening and detection technologies at all borders to protect our societies from the perils of illegitimate trade," Musabih said.

"Updating and improving screening techniques has become a necessity to face the challenges of today which include the rising number of passengers and trade volume. Customs administrations around the world will seek to adopt the latest advancements in inspection in order to sustain security and protect societies from the perils of illegitimate trade without compromising the quality of service they provide to their clients. We are happy and proud to have partnered with this important conference, which is an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise with different stakeholders. It is a chance for us to showcase our experience in developing and using the latest smart applications in screening and inspection," he added.

IATA estimates the total number of air passengers will reach 7.3 billion by the year 2034. In 2016, 3.7 billion passengers travelled by air, and in 2014 the volume of trade reached US$22.3 trillion.

The number of passengers and trade value are rising in Dubai, and it is expected that the number of Dubai visitors will be around 20 million in 2020 compared to 14.9 million visitors in 2016. Dubai Customs will have to deal with 120 million air passengers in 2020, and air cargo will rise to more than 5 million tonnes. In 2030, around 190 million passengers are expected to use Dubai airports, and they will rise to 260 million in 2040 and 309 million in 2050.

"The UAE faces the rising number of passengers and trade volume efficiently following the vision of our wise leadership which urges all of us to turn challenges into opportunities to fulfil the requirements of the "post oil UAE" initiative. This great initiative, which was launched by Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will help in diversifying the national economy by developing external trade and logistic services. We at Dubai Customs adopt the latest smart technologies in inspection and risk evaluation to be able to cope up with the rising growth in trade and travel movement in the UAE" Musabih added.